We thought we’d wrap up blogiversary week with one last post for anyone else writing a blog and/or trying to make a business out of it. We don’t like to think of ourselves as formal blogging experts, but since we always share our learn-as-we-go insights when it comes to home and DIY, we figured it made sense to share what we’ve learned in the past four years of blogging too. Oh and we included pictures of Burger to help illustrate some points along the way. You know, for kicks.

Rule #1: A blog should be born from passion (not a business plan). At least for us, that seemed to work. We write about DIY because we love it, not because we picked it off of a list of “hot topics that might make you money.” Writing about what you truly love makes all of the not-as-fun “maintenance” parts of blogging worth it, and helps make the fun parts that much more fun to do.

Rule #2: Blogging is not a get rich quick thing. Again, at least not in our experience. It’s more like a write-over-2,000-posts-over-four-years-and-make-a-modest-living thing. So in the beginning you might just be sniffing counting pennies, but remember rule #1… you’re doing what you love!

Rule #3: “Success” is an insanely random beast. We have no idea why our little blog grew like it did. There are thousands of amazingly creative blogs out there, so it’s not like we think what we do is terribly unique (see this post). Our best guess is that’s it’s some combination of hard work and a series of lucky breaks (more on that here). Though our geekiness, honesty, and borderline annoying can-do attitude might contribute as well.

Rule #4: Don’t try to be anyone but you. This honestly should be rule #1 because it’s the first and most important (albeit extremely tried and true) tip that we could ever pass along. Mimicking a blog that’s already big won’t get you there, nor will acting snarky if you’re not (or acting not-snarky if you are?). So if you’re not a taco loving chihuahua, don’t try to play one on TV on your blog. It’s much easier to detect phoniness online than you might think, and people will connect with you more strongly if you’re just being good ol’ fashioned you.

Rule #5: Not everyone will love every post/idea. We’re still working on this (hence Goal #4 yesterday) but Bill Cosby was right when he said the fastest way to please no one is to try to please everyone. There will always be folks asking for more of something while others want less of it. But in the scheme of things, it’s your blog. And blogging (like design) is subjective – so there’s not one “right way” to do it. It definitely helps to accept that opposing opinions are par for the course, then just hold strong to Rule #4 and you’ll be ok.

Rule #6: Blogging is a desk job. As you saw in our pie-chart-tastic post on Tuesday, we spend 80%-ish of our working hours doing something on the computer (writing posts, editing photos, responding to emails, writing columns, answering comments) so even though our subject matter is pretty “active,” projects are probably a smaller part of what we do than most people think.

Rule #7: Blogging’s also a creative after-hours not-desk job too. Which is our favorite part. The fact that painting a room, building a desk, or creating free art is a part of our job rocks our socks off. And that’s a big reason why we keep doing what we’re doing, because we recognize how incredibly fortunate we are to get to make a living doing what we love (which brings us back to Rule #1).

Rule #8: You work harder for yourself than anyone else. We’ve heard this from lots of people who have their own business, and it’s 100% true. The pressure is on when things like buying food and paying the mortgage all depend on your “venture.” And it’s especially hard to unplug when you work from home, since the line between laptop time and family time is blurred (we’re still working on it, hence Goal #1 of yesterday’s post). Just try to get some fresh air every now and then. We come up with some of our best ideas when we’re on a road trip or out walking around the neighborhood.

Rule #9: As your blog grows, the expenses will grow too. Many of our friends are surprised to hear that we have business expenses (hence this post on Tuesday), but between paying for hosting, site support, insurance, business fees, accounting, and quarterly taxes there’s definitely a price to blogging (not to mention all the projects that we take on, which have to be budgeted for as well). So it might help to prepare for that stuff by learning how to stay organized, track your money, and balance a budget. Heck, getting chummy with an accountant or two can’t hurt either.

Rule #10: It’s all worth it! So just relax, have fun, and see where you end up. In spite of some of the hard behind-the-scenes stuff about blogging, one thing is for sure: we love what we do. And we wouldn’t rather be doing anything else. Seriously. Four years ago when we started this whole shebang we never dreamed that we’d end up here. But we did. And for that we’re extremely grateful. So remember to enjoy the ride. Heck, feel free to wag your tail a bit.

Ok, now we want to hear from you guys. To those who blog, we’d love to hear what you’ve learned (I’m sure the lessons are completely different for everyone!). And if you’re not a blogger, we’d love to hear a few things that your current profession has taught you (are we the only nosy folks who find other people’s jobs fascinating?). For example, in advertising I learned to be flexible, not get married to an idea, be passionate, and wing it.

With that, we have reached the end of our big ol’ fourth blogiversary. Thanks so much for celebrating with us! We’ll be back to our regularly scheduled home improvement projects on Monday. So in the words of Clara The Songstress, cheers to the weekend!

Psst- We’ve updated the end of Wednesday’s poll post with stats about who you guys are (at least the 5,000 folks who took our Facebook poll). So just click here and scroll down for those deets.

Great post. I started a blog awahile to document our house projects as well (kind of like why you guys originally started the blog). But I spend my entire day at a desk looking at a computer, so then typing up a blog entry was the last thing I wanted to do when I got home (glass of wine is usually first on the list, haha!).

I’m pretty new to this blogging stuff. I also do it because I love it. I have found when you are getting started that you need to set a schedule for yourself, otherwise you end up doing all the projects, taking pictures and then never post it unless you make it a habit to post regularly.

I try and post twice a week (since I do have a different day job and the blogging thing is for fun right now, though I would love to be a “blogger” someday!) Posting regularly helps people who discover and like your blog keep coming back too because they know there will be fresh content x number of times a week.

Great last blogiversary post! One tip my husband gave me when I started my blog was to stick with it, no matter what. There may be days when no one reads and you feel like you’re talking to yourself, but you have to get over that hump and keep working at it. Which I’m still doing, I still hear crickets at times :), but I always think back to him telling me that in the beginning. Baby steps.

I have a blog (http://ourhumbleabowed.wordpress.com/) and I’ve learned that it is much more difficult than people think blogging is. It really is a job. Between the projects to do, writing post and taking pictures, it all adds up. And, despite all of your hard work and effort, you’ll still get someone that wants to rain on your parade. I’m still learning how to deal with the harsh criticism. Mostly when it comes to non-home related stuff, aka critiquing our parenting.

I’ve been blogging since the end of March and I think I’ve learned that the more I blog, the better I get. I’m also surprised at how a small topic can end up with a large 1000+ word post but a long-term project can mean a smaller post.

I started to get all of my thoughts & ideas for our wedding down in one place, but even after the wedding is done, I know I’ll continue with just daily things. It’s a lot of fun!

I’m not a full time blogger but I’ve learned that inspiration comes and goes and it’s always frustrating when you get stuck and/or run out of projects to do!

It’s also hard to want to continue to blog when you’re first starting out and you don’t have a lot of readers because you feel like you’re talking to no one and that no one is ever going to read your blog but then the sweet comments come in and it makes it all worth it :)

The best thing I’ve learned about growing your blog is that you have to put yourself out there. If you don’t tell anyone about your blog, now one will know about it! (I have to say, my blog was very no-one-knows for almost a year! But, I was very shy about it.)
Go spread the commenting love. Tell people you like what they are doing/saying and maybe they will return the favor!

I sing Christmas songs to my dogs when they are anxious. I don’t know why, that’s just what pops out when I’m trying to calm them. Rudolph and Jingle Bells can make anything better, I guess!
Enjoyed this week, thanks.

Whenever I have to take my cat somewhere in the car, she cries and cries unless I’m talking to her. I often run out of things to say to her (’cause you know, she’s a CAT) so I start singing the soundtrack to the Phantom of the Opera and she quiets right down. LOL.

Yes to all of that! I’m a singer ( a full time chorister at the Metropolitan Opera here in NYC ) and I totally agree with Stacey…ALWAYS SING! My job has totally taught me how to appreciate my life. I stand next to and sing with some of the greatest singers of our time. AND I get to read fabulous decor blogs when I am off. Could it get better than that? Happy Blogiversary!

Love the pictures of burger! I’m too new at this blogging thing to have any lessons yet. But my current profession, a secretary, has taught me business skills, and that you should keep track of every single thing that goes on, as in write it down, keep a log, something like that so you can always reference it when things go crazy.

I plan weddings and events for a living and that is really a LOVE LOVE LOVE what you do industry. Its fast paced, last minute, people pleasing and VERY demanding (aka needy)! But I love it and wouldn’t want to do anything else. That being said I sort of blog about trends and events that I’ve done….but I find it hard to keep up with I’d rather be running around setting up an event space or fluffing a brides train as she goes down the aisle.
*Must be better at blogging!

Hmm…in four years as a lawyer/compliance person, I’ve learned:
1) There are slow times and high-stress times, so appreciate the slow times when they come around.
2) Details, details, details.
3) Good people skills=life-saving.
4) No one’s life is at stake (unless you’re a surgeon or something…scary), so try to relax and just do your best and things will probably work out.
So glad you guys started blogging, it’s a bright spot in my day, every day!

This is an excellent list of rules I am keeping bookmarked to share with friends and strangers who ask about making a business out of blogging.

While I did go into my blog thinking it could eventually become ‘something’ I never dreamed it would take me in the direction it has! The one thing that hasn’t changed is my love of blogging, and my topic (saving money and living well on less).

It’s so much fun to do what you love, but it’s still hard work. Just a kind you don’t hate. ;)

I don’t comment often, but just wanted to drop in and tell you how much I enjoyed the Blogiversary week! I read each one of your posts every single day, but got even more excited this week because I loved hearing all the “behind the scenes” details of how your family works/job works! (I’m nosy too;)!) Thanks for a great week!

I think being yourself on a blog is key. Yes, I of course love seeing your DIY projects, but I think I keep reading YHL because you two write in a way that seems so authentic and down to earth. The way you write about a project is the exact same way that I picture would speak about it in real life. Thanks for keeping it real!

About

Hey, we're Sherry & John. This is where we chronicled 7 years of our lives as we fixed up 3 homes, had 2 children, became accidental authors and product designers, and shared our adventures (and misadventures) with the world. Now it's a time capsule of sorts, complete with nearly 3,000 posts, projects, and updates.